"Stunned" Hong Myung-bo's team, the moment of certain elimination revealed: "The players witnessed it firsthand..." [World Cup On-Site Issues]

*This content was translated by AI.

No miracle occurred, and the Taegeuk Warriors bowed their heads in emptiness at the moment the goal nets of another country shook. It was reported that the South Korean national football team players, who had been waiting for desperate scenarios from the brink of the cliff, watched in real time at the venue the moment their elimination was confirmed.

According to a Korea Football Association official, the national team players watched the final Group K matches between Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo together during dinner on the 27th (local time). For South Korea to dramatically catch the last train to the Round of 32, a harsh situation arose where Uzbekistan, already confirmed for elimination, had to defeat the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The atmosphere of the Mo In (CEO) team at that evening dinner was pure anxiety. The players fixed their eyes on the screen amidst intense tension. Some players watched the match at the hotel restaurant, while others gathered separately in their rooms in groups to watch.

The players cheered for Uzbekistan with a sliver of hope, but the cold reality was cruel. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which had fought neck-and-neck with Portugal, was strong, and their motivation to qualify on their own crushed South Korea's hopes. Uzbekistan took the lead but collapsed after conceding three consecutive goals in the second half, and when an additional goal sealed the match, a heavy silence must have enveloped the national team's lodging.

An association official at the scene said, "The players watched the match with anxious hearts," and "When the Democratic Republic of the Congo scored a comeback goal and then an additional goal, the players were stunned," fully conveying the desolate atmosphere of the scene at the time. South Korea experienced the humiliation of receiving a perfect death sentence not by its own hands but by the toe of another country.

With this defeat, South Korea's elimination prevention scenario completely collapsed. The subsequent J Group match also ended unfavorably for South Korea as Algeria and Austria drew 3-3, forcing South Korea to pack its bags with a shameful final ranking of 34th. Amidst the shock of an early elimination for the first time in eight years since the 2018 Russia tournament, the Taegeuk Warriors' challenge ended shabbily.

Some members of the Han Pyeon (CEO) team are scheduled to enter South Korea via the United States.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.